A Note on those Sausages

You may recall, I offered two BBQ sausages to whoever wanted them, well, Susan did say the sausages have been in the fridge for a couple of weeks already, so best come fetch them sooner rather than later. In all honesty, I would give them a miss but if the need is great by all means come around and pick them up.

Tonight is Pasta night, always pasta on a Monday. Tuesday is chicken, Wednesday is steak, Thursday is fish and obviously, Friday is burger night.

Well, tonight is pasta night and I am staggered by the lack of enthusiasm and the noticeable lack of family. I suppose it can be explained but it is a celebration of food, wine and good company.

Susan is in Korea, working, Michael is in France, on holiday, Robert is off to Switzerland, working and Angela’s excuse is that she is in Australia. It is pasta night, let’s have some commitment.

We have a mad dictator who has just invaded Ukraine. I feel for the innocent people who live there and must warn them, our weak, ineffectual leaders in the western world will only huff and puff, help from them will not happen.

All I can say to Ukraine’s, keep strong, one day it will end and you will all be stronger. Remember, that sometimes it will feel like the sky will open, the earth will erupt beneath your feet if you can stand at all. You will feel exposed and vulnerable, most at risk and in need of all the strength, you can find. Then you will find strength and hope again. I hope sense will prevail but with Adolf Putin still, around, common sense is just a word he does not understand.

Life is often about the things we make, the homes we build, the food we share, the children we bear. We can turn despair into survival, tears into courage and grow. Our peace and freedom is precious gift, not to be taken lightly, this war brings that gift into sharp focus for me.

Jenson is a little lost without Susan and Robert here. He barks whenever a car drives past, I suppose he is hoping it will be one of them. This reminds me of Robert and his relationship with Jenson.

Jenson barks at the door.

Robert says; ‘Hey buddy, what did I tell you?’ Jenson sits down and looks at Robert. You can see the way this is going, maybe he is thinking.

Jenson; ‘What did you tell me? Give me a hint? Let’s work together on this one.'

Robert; ‘I told you not to bark at cars.’ Robert gives him a big hug and pats him.

Jenson; ‘ Well that went alright, seems he likes me barking.’

Well, that’s Robert putting his degree in Applied Psychology to good use.

Mika

Just in parting, Mika has just turned 20 and we wish her a Happy Birthday. Russell is much older and we wish him a great birthday and hope he will have many more. Hopefully, he had a wee dram to celebrate, not sure if you can buy whiskey in Tanzania but if not let me know and I will ask Tamacgor S Bald to bring a case over on the next visit.

Russell Smith

Dates for your diary - Mika’s Birthday 25th Feb, Russell’s Birthday 24th Feb.